When Zero Isn’t Nothing
In recent years, we’ve all begun to realize the danger of trans fatty acids, known unaffectionately as trans fats. Artery-clogging trans fats are commonly found in foods that contain hydrogenated oils, but can also exist in some meats and milk products naturally.
While nutritional information on that pack of chips or bag of doughnuts often lists the amount of trans fats present, don’t think that zero actually means nothing.
According to guidelines set by the FDA, nutritional labels on products that state zero can actually have up to 0.5 gram (1/2 g) of trans fats. Chances are, if the ingredients say hydrogenated oil, whether partial or not, the product has some amount of trans fats.
